Created By: Graham
Lord Penrhyn, who lived at Wicken Park (now Akeley Wood Junior School in Wicken), built the Holy Trinity Church in 1853 to meet the needs of the increased population that accompanied the Victorian growth of the village. The church was consecrated in 1854 as a 'Chapel of Ease' to the Parish Church of St Guthlac in Passenham. Until then people had walked from Deanshanger to St Guthlac's to worship. The church was built at a cost of £2,300 and in The Illustrated London News in 1854, Holy Trinity Church was described as "an excellent though inexpensive example of the small village church"
The church was designed by the architect Benjamin Ferry in the Early English Style. It had seating for 400 people and consisted of a nave, north aisle, south porch, chancel and bell turret with 3 bells. Oil lamps provided the initial source of lighting and the church heating was driven by a boiler that required stoking, even during services and often in the middle of a sermon! The Stoker was also responsible for tending the churchyard and graves and the stoke hole, known as the 'Glory Hole', was sited under the vestry. In 1897 the organ was removed from the Chancel to the Vestry as part of alterations along with a new pulpit designed by E Swinfen Harris junior. In 1906 a stained-glass east window was installed commemorating the church's 50th anniversary.
The Church has been a Grade II listed building since 1988.
This point of interest is part of the tour: Deanshanger Past and Present, a village walk (Guided)
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